Christmas parade 11/16 at 10:30 AM?

[goooof1]

I have been a few times during parade taping (early Nov.). They do not run the parade through as normal. We were walking through the hub and the floats were stopped. There was someone on a loud speaker giving directions to a particular float and then they were told to try again; cue up the music, do over, stop again and receive more instruction. It seemed there wasn't any movement for a while. Yeah, people were lined up on main street, etc. but it looked and sounded awful boring! (that Nov.5&6 is the usual timeframe in previous years for the taping).

 

[Darkbeer1]

I have been a few times during parade taping (early Nov.). They do not run the parade through as normal. We were walking through the hub and the floats were stopped. There was someone on a loud speaker giving directions to a particular float and then they were told to try again; cue up the music, do over, stop again and receive more instruction. It seemed there wasn't any movement for a while. Yeah, people were lined up on main street, etc. but it looked and sounded awful boring! (that Nov.5&6 is the usual timeframe in previous years for the taping).

Disney does not specifically show the event on its calendar because it is not a parade, but filming, with lots of starts/stops, moving cameras, adjusting guests (used as free extras) to get the "right" family as a backdrop, etc.

Disney ropes off pathways to keep the traffic moving, and allows anyone to stay if they can fit in the roped off area to watch. But it is truly hurry up and wait... And this comes from someone who does "extra wrangling" on a regular basis for Theme Park TV filming. The cute kid doesn't end up at the front of the coaster by accident

 

[mom2rtk]

OK, so the parades are still showing as 10:30 and 1:15 that day. Still don't know what the reason is, but I assume it's some backstage issue with parade management as they move PTN into place for the 18th?

Anyway, today they changed the parade on the 17th to 7:45. That's not really notable except that it had previously been listed at 4:15 and is now the only day on the entire holiday calendar with the Christmas parade running after dark.

I'm thinking maybe it's connected to whatever backstage issue also caused the early time the day before.

Anyone have a guess what the reason is?

 

[mom2rtk]

So nobody has a theory on why the odd parade times 11/16 and 11/17? I did call last night to change my WOC Dessert Party again, this time so I could be free on the 17th to see this lone evening running of the Christmas Parade. The funny part is that the CM I talked with initially told me the parade was at 4:15 that day and had to go check to confirm the 7:45 time.

I hope they don't change things up any more!

 

[mom2rtk]

Update: Someone in the parks this weekend has reported that the times guide says the parade will indeed be taping on Wednesday. Not sure about Thursday.

 

[dina444444]

Update: Someone in the parks this weekend has reported that the times guide says the parade will indeed be taping on Wednesday. Not sure about Thursday.

Here is the times guide.

 

[mom2rtk]

Here is the times guide.

View attachment 206305

Thanks for that. Although I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad to actually see it in print. I actually called twice to find out why it was changed to such odd times and the CM's on the phone seemed just as surprised by the time as I was. And people here said they usually didn't list times in the guide when it was filming.

Oh well. So much for 1 of the 2 days we thought we'd have low crowds.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Thursday night is the ceremonial lighting of Small World for the media. That couldn't throw a wrench into things.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thursday night is the ceremonial lighting of Small World for the media. That couldn't throw a wrench into things.

UGH. That really messes with me watching the Christmas parade from the Small World area that night. I also called to find out why the lone evening running of the Christmas parade that night and nobody knew. Now I imagine that area will be gridlocked. And of course hat's exactly where I planned to watch.

I'm so tired of these last minute surprises.

But thanks for filling in this last blank for me. I do appreciate that.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thursday night is the ceremonial lighting of Small World for the media. That couldn't throw a wrench into things.

I'm still trying to think this through. Do you know what time the ceremonial lighting will be? Do you have any idea if part of this area will be blocked off for media?

 

[mom2rtk]

Thursday night is the ceremonial lighting of Small World for the media. That couldn't throw a wrench into things.

Thanks again for posting that. Your post was the only hint I got from anybody about what was going on.

So here's the mystery solved. Greg was early yesterday at 10:30 and 1:15 for taping. Last night small world was set up for Mariah Carey to perform for the taping as well. Ceremonial lighting was tonight. I believe they left the grandstands in place and couldn't run a parade in the afternoon. Therefore today is the only evening parade of the entire season.

I'm not thrilled about any of that but it sure would have been nice if somebody could have explained it to me earlier, so I would have had a clue what I was dealing with. It has been gridlock is Small World 2 nights in a row on days I expected low crowds.